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Slyette - Older Ladies' Reactions by gutsygirl on 13 Feb, 2013 23:01
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Funny thing happened at physical therapy today. I had no less than three women stop me - total strangers - at various times and places along the way. They were actually all older women, all above 60 I'd say. And they stopped me to say the same thing - "I could never have the confidence to go bald but I can't stop looking your way because you're so pretty and your face is so clear. Your smile and your eyes stand out, and your head is flawless and perfectly shaped!" One of the ladies said, "I love it when you come to therapy here because your laugh lights up the whole pool." Whoops, guess I've been laughing too loud again. Agh.
Anyways, I find it quite amusing that usually elderly ladies really like my dome, though not as surprising when I start to hear about all the work they do to keep their own hair looking put-together. One said "It must be nice to not have to fix your hair! I can barely reach mine anymore to brush it; it's such a hassle." Another had said something about going to the stylist more than once a week.
When one gets so many compliments on going bald or very shortly shorn, it's hard to imagine why I even bothered with hair for so many years! Certainly never got many compliments on my kinky hair (though it was often thrown together in a pony tail or half-fixed on my way to class anyways so no real surprise).
This sure has turned into a psychology/sociology experiment even though it never started that way. Since I'm a thinker by nature, I've thought a lot about human perception, personal judgments, cultural norms and their role in forming (and maintaining) society, and lots of other things. As I'm a social person (so long as I'm not in too much pain or stressed out about something), I don't mind too much having an easy conversation-starter; I'm just glad it's not my wheelchair as that gets really old. Maybe one day this will get really old too. Then it's time to wear more hats. Haha.
GutsyGirl -
#1 by Lynchy on 14 Feb, 2013 01:13
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Awesome stuff, compliments are always nice!
And yes, wheelchair comments would get old pretty quick I imagine! -
#2 by OzSly on 14 Feb, 2013 02:12
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Great Story GutsyGirl, thanks for sharing.
Always great to get compliments on being Sly. Even more so from mature ladies.
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#3 by bella on 14 Feb, 2013 03:42
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That's awesome to hear, gutsygirl. I've not had any comments from mature ladies yet, but next Saturday I'm doing some volunteer art therapy at a senior living facility, so we shall see what I can contribute to the social experiment!
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#4 by gutsygirl on 24 Feb, 2013 21:54
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That's awesome to hear, gutsygirl. I've not had any comments from mature ladies yet, but next Saturday I'm doing some volunteer art therapy at a senior living facility, so we shall see what I can contribute to the social experiment!
So, Bella, how did it go with your activity at the senior living facility? Did you get some nice compliments? I'd love to hear about your experience! -
#5 by Todo Duro on 25 Feb, 2013 13:49
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Good story there GutsyGirl! That's something I've noticed too, it seems that elderly people are often more accepting of and curious about others' choices than people many years their junior... food for thought, definitely.
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#6 by Switchy on 25 Feb, 2013 14:12
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Good story there GutsyGirl! That's something I've noticed too, it seems that elderly people are often more accepting of and curious about others' choices than people many years their junior... food for thought, definitely.
That is because most of us just have more wisdom and no hair ! LOL I am not so curious , but enjoy good upkeep of a person instead of the days, of growing hair and burning the flag !
If you got it grow it , and if ya got it smoke it. Just know what that Red, White , and Blue means, and those who have died ,etc. for it . And many of those were shaved heads way back
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#7 by bella on 07 Mar, 2013 10:24
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I forgot about this thread!
The typical reaction was envy: "Oh you look so cute I wish I could do that."
Me: "you could!"
Them: "oh, no I couldn't..."
I also volunteer with recent immigrants helping them get settled in the workforce, and they almost unanimously dig the bald head regardless of region of origin... -
#8 by gutsygirl on 07 Mar, 2013 20:35
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Neat to hear of the multicultural acceptance there, Bella!
Yeah that's essentially what I hear from other women as well.